Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes

The TCM approach treats Zang Fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through Jing-Lou system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the Zang Fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related Zang or Fu organs. Affected Zang or Fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, and then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the Zang Fu organs.

Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on the Yin-Yang and Five element theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi-gong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on Zang Fu organs internally, while Qi-gong tries to restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe.

Citing: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. (2016). What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Retrieved from https://www.ctcma.bc.ca/public-protection/what-is-tcm

More about Traditional Medicines & Acupuncture?

How thin is an Acupuncture needle?

Once in a while some patient nervously asks for alternative treatment modalities such as Cupping, Moxibustion, Gua Sha, or anything else but acupuncture needles. They shyly admit they are scared of acupuncture needles.

Perhaps this time we could talk about Acupuncture needles, especially on the thickness difference from syringes, instead of the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatments.

Re-discovery of Channels

Coming Soon…